The interior of the ruin was as haunting as it was beautiful. The stone walls stretched high above, their surfaces covered in glowing runes that pulsed faintly, like the heartbeat of the structure itself. The air was heavy with magic, thick and cloying, and every step echoed through the vast, cavernous halls.
Azhaan kept his hand on the hilt of his blade, his senses on edge. Shade padded silently beside him, its red eyes scanning the shadows with sharp precision. The bond between them pulsed with a quiet mix of vigilance and curiosity, echoing Azhaan's own feelings.
Kaela led the group, her celestial dragon, Lirian, perched on her shoulder. The dragon's wings shimmered faintly, casting a soft light that illuminated the path ahead. Orik followed close behind, his massive bear-like beast, Boulderhide, lumbering with heavy steps that reverberated through the hall.
"This place feels… alive," Azhaan said softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kaela glanced back at him, her expression serious. "It's not just a feeling. These ruins are old—ancient even. The magic here has a will of its own. Be careful."
Orik let out a low chuckle, though his tone was tense. "Great. Haunted ruins. Just what I signed up for."
The group emerged into a massive chamber, its walls covered from floor to ceiling with intricate runes. The glowing symbols seemed to shift and ripple, their patterns almost hypnotic.
At the center of the room stood a pedestal, its surface etched with the same glowing runes. On the pedestal rested a small, crystalline orb that pulsed faintly with light.
"What is that?" Azhaan asked, his gaze fixed on the orb.
Kaela stepped closer, her amber eyes narrowing as she examined the pedestal. "A focus crystal. It's a conduit for magic, used to amplify or control energy. But this one… it's different."
Orik frowned, his hand resting on Boulderhide's shoulder. "Different how?"
Kaela reached out, her fingers hovering just above the orb. "The magic in this crystal isn't stable. It's tied to something… bigger. Something deeper."
Azhaan felt a faint hum in the back of his mind, a familiar sensation that made his pulse quicken. He activated his System, the glowing interface appearing before him.
The screen flickered briefly before displaying new text:
"Focus Crystal detected. Warning: Corrupted energy present. Proceed with caution."
Azhaan's jaw tightened. "It's corrupted. Just like the beast outside."
Kaela withdrew her hand, her expression darkening. "That explains the scouts' reports. If the corruption's rooted here, it could spread through the entire Verdantwilds."
Orik's brows furrowed. "So, what do we do? Destroy it?"
Kaela shook her head. "Not yet. We need to understand it first. Destroying something like this without knowing how it works could make things worse."
Before the group could decide their next move, the air in the chamber grew colder, and the runes on the walls pulsed brighter. The ground beneath them trembled, and a deep, guttural growl echoed through the hall.
"Get ready!" Kaela shouted, drawing her blade.
From the shadows at the edge of the chamber, another corrupted beast emerged. This one was larger than the one outside, its twisted form pulsating with dark energy. Its glowing eyes locked onto the group, and it let out a deafening roar.
Boulderhide charged forward with a thunderous growl, slamming into the beast with earth-shaking force. The corrupted creature snarled, its claws raking across Boulderhide's flank.
"Shade, Dusk Shroud!" Azhaan shouted.
Shade released a wave of shadowy energy, enveloping the chamber in darkness. The corrupted beast hesitated, its movements disoriented as it struggled to locate its prey.
"Lirian, Starlight Burst!" Kaela commanded.
Lirian soared into the air, its crystalline wings glowing brightly as it unleashed a burst of radiant energy. The light cut through the shadows, briefly stunning the corrupted beast.
"Umbra Fangs!" Azhaan yelled.
Shade lunged from the darkness, its fangs glowing with shadow energy as it struck the beast's side. The creature roared in pain, lashing out wildly, but Shade darted away with fluid precision.
The battle raged on, each member of the group working in tandem to wear down the corrupted beast. Azhaan's mind raced as he issued commands to Shade, each move calculated and precise.
But as the beast grew weaker, the corruption in the chamber seemed to intensify. The runes on the walls pulsed erratically, their light growing brighter and more unstable.
"We need to finish this now!" Kaela shouted, her voice strained.
Azhaan nodded, his gaze fixed on the beast. "Shade, Umbra Fangs—one more time!"
Shade lunged again, its fangs sinking deep into the beast's flank. The creature let out a final, shuddering roar before collapsing to the ground, its body dissolving into dark, swirling energy.
The chamber fell silent, the only sound the group's labored breathing.
As the group caught their breath, the light from the focus crystal dimmed, its pulsing energy stabilizing slightly. Azhaan approached the pedestal cautiously, his gaze fixed on the orb.
The System's interface flickered again, new text appearing before him:
"Corruption contained. Focus Crystal stability restored temporarily. Further investigation required."
Azhaan frowned, his hand hovering over the crystal. "It's connected to the corruption, but it's not the source. There's something deeper."
Kaela stepped beside him, her expression thoughtful. "If the corruption isn't coming from the crystal, it might be tied to whatever created this ruin in the first place."
Orik let out a low sigh, his massive beast settling beside him. "Great. So, we've got more digging to do?"
Kaela smirked faintly. "Looks like it."
Azhaan's gaze lingered on the crystal, the faint hum of its magic resonating in his mind. Whatever secrets this ruin held, he was determined to uncover them—and to stop the corruption before it could spread any further.